Brands Hatch gatecrasher Jack Cottle from Wadhurst charged with causing a public nuisance

A man who allegedly drove his girlfriend's car on to the former Formula 1 circuit at Brands Hatch during a race has been charged with causing a public nuisance.

Jack Cottle, 21, was arrested on suspicion of false imprisonment in June after footage appeared on YouTube of a white Volkswagen Polo being driven into the middle of a Fun Cup race at the Kent circuit, police said.

Cottle, of Durgates, Wadhurst, East Sussex, was charged when he answered bail at a Kent police station last night.

He will appear at Sevenoaks Magistrates' Court on September 22, a police spokeswoman said.

Near the beginning of the three-minute, 17-second video, a woman appears to ask: "Does anyone not think it's weird that no-one's said anything?"

A few seconds later, as the car enters the race track, she begins to scream, begging the driver to stop as he and a person sitting in the back holding the camera phone laugh.

The video provoked outrage on Twitter.

NBC Motorsport commentator and journalist Will Buxton questioned how the car was able to get on to the track.

"The driver may be a complete idiot, but he should never have got even close to the paddock, let alone the pit lane or track," he tweeted.

A second video shows the car during the race, with a commentator asking: "Why is there a Volkswagen Golf on the track? I know these are VW Beetles, but that's not quite right, is it?"

Comments

"A man who allegedly drove his girlfriend's car on to the former Formula 1 circuit at Brands Hatch during a race has been charged with causing a public nuisance. "

There is nothing 'alleged' about it.

It plainly happened, it was been seen by thousands, and the video shows it to the rest of the world.

"A man who allegedly drove his girlfriend's car on to the former Formula 1 circuit at Brands Hatch during a race has been charged with causing a public nuisance. "
There is nothing 'alleged' about it.
It plainly happened, it was been seen by thousands, and the video shows it to the rest of the world.notslimjim

"A man who allegedly drove his girlfriend's car on to the former Formula 1 circuit at Brands Hatch during a race has been charged with causing a public nuisance. "

There is nothing 'alleged' about it.

It plainly happened, it was been seen by thousands, and the video shows it to the rest of the world.

Score: -4

Tr1stan
11:21am Tue 19 Aug 14

notslimjim wrote…

"A man who allegedly drove his girlfriend's car on to the former Formula 1 circuit at Brands Hatch during a race has been charged with causing a public nuisance. "

There is nothing 'alleged' about it.

It plainly happened, it was been seen by thousands, and the video shows it to the rest of the world.

I kinda agree. However, I think they are obliged to say "allegedly" until it's been proven in court..?

[quote][p][bold]notslimjim[/bold] wrote:
"A man who allegedly drove his girlfriend's car on to the former Formula 1 circuit at Brands Hatch during a race has been charged with causing a public nuisance. "
There is nothing 'alleged' about it.
It plainly happened, it was been seen by thousands, and the video shows it to the rest of the world.[/p][/quote]I kinda agree. However, I think they are obliged to say "allegedly" until it's been proven in court..?Tr1stan

notslimjim wrote…

"A man who allegedly drove his girlfriend's car on to the former Formula 1 circuit at Brands Hatch during a race has been charged with causing a public nuisance. "

There is nothing 'alleged' about it.

It plainly happened, it was been seen by thousands, and the video shows it to the rest of the world.

I kinda agree. However, I think they are obliged to say "allegedly" until it's been proven in court..?

Score: 22

notslimjim
11:28am Tue 19 Aug 14

Tr1stan wrote…

notslimjim wrote…

"A man who allegedly drove his girlfriend's car on to the former Formula 1 circuit at Brands Hatch during a race has been charged with causing a public nuisance. "

There is nothing 'alleged' about it.

It plainly happened, it was been seen by thousands, and the video shows it to the rest of the world.

I kinda agree. However, I think they are obliged to say "allegedly" until it's been proven in court..?

Fair comment.

[quote][p][bold]Tr1stan[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]notslimjim[/bold] wrote:
"A man who allegedly drove his girlfriend's car on to the former Formula 1 circuit at Brands Hatch during a race has been charged with causing a public nuisance. "
There is nothing 'alleged' about it.
It plainly happened, it was been seen by thousands, and the video shows it to the rest of the world.[/p][/quote]I kinda agree. However, I think they are obliged to say "allegedly" until it's been proven in court..?[/p][/quote]Fair comment.notslimjim

Tr1stan wrote…

notslimjim wrote…

"A man who allegedly drove his girlfriend's car on to the former Formula 1 circuit at Brands Hatch during a race has been charged with causing a public nuisance. "

There is nothing 'alleged' about it.

It plainly happened, it was been seen by thousands, and the video shows it to the rest of the world.

I kinda agree. However, I think they are obliged to say "allegedly" until it's been proven in court..?

Fair comment.

Score: -10

TIMBURRY
11:32am Tue 19 Aug 14

After watching the video, maybe the alleged bit is the false imprisonment part of the offences he's being charged with.

After watching the video, maybe the alleged bit is the false imprisonment part of the offences he's being charged with.TIMBURRY

After watching the video, maybe the alleged bit is the false imprisonment part of the offences he's being charged with.

Score: 11

whatone
12:23pm Tue 19 Aug 14

TIMBURRY wrote…

After watching the video, maybe the alleged bit is the false imprisonment part of the offences he's being charged with.

And is she still his girlfriend!

[quote][p][bold]TIMBURRY[/bold] wrote:
After watching the video, maybe the alleged bit is the false imprisonment part of the offences he's being charged with.[/p][/quote]And is she still his girlfriend!whatone

TIMBURRY wrote…

After watching the video, maybe the alleged bit is the false imprisonment part of the offences he's being charged with.

And is she still his girlfriend!

Score: 2

whatsisname
1:33pm Tue 19 Aug 14

oh we're not allowed to say tw@t not, jesus wept!

oh we're not allowed to say tw@t not, jesus wept!whatsisname

oh we're not allowed to say tw@t not, jesus wept!

Score: 1

paul76
1:31pm Tue 19 Aug 14

How about endangering life or attempted murder?

How about endangering life or attempted murder?paul76

How about endangering life or attempted murder?

Score: -2

whatsisname
1:32pm Tue 19 Aug 14

one word, ****. nuff said

one word, ****. nuff saidwhatsisname

one word, ****. nuff said

Score: -5

NickBrt
4:11pm Tue 19 Aug 14

He's a very naughty man.

He's a very naughty man.NickBrt

He's a very naughty man.

Score: 0

Goldenwight
4:56pm Tue 19 Aug 14

But what position did he finish in?

But what position did he finish in?Goldenwight

But what position did he finish in?

Score: 3

notslimjim
5:15pm Tue 19 Aug 14

Goldenwight wrote…

But what position did he finish in?

Face down with his arms held by the police, probably.

[quote][p][bold]Goldenwight[/bold] wrote:
But what position did he finish in?[/p][/quote]Face down with his arms held by the police, probably.notslimjim

Goldenwight wrote…

But what position did he finish in?

Face down with his arms held by the police, probably.

Score: 3

Bsxking1
5:46pm Tue 19 Aug 14

Shame his gf was in the car he could have had a good race!! Hilarious video

Shame his gf was in the car he could have had a good race!! Hilarious videoBsxking1

Shame his gf was in the car he could have had a good race!! Hilarious video

Score: 0

tez1959
6:12pm Tue 19 Aug 14

i might give that a go when the british touring cars are racing at brands hatch in my berlingo van quite funny actually lol

i might give that a go when the british touring cars are racing at brands hatch in my berlingo van quite funny actually loltez1959

i might give that a go when the british touring cars are racing at brands hatch in my berlingo van quite funny actually lol

Score: 0

ghost bus driver
9:20pm Tue 19 Aug 14

There is actually footage of someone driving a coach round the nurburgring. How mad would you have to be to try that?

There is actually footage of someone driving a coach round the nurburgring. How mad would you have to be to try that?ghost bus driver

There is actually footage of someone driving a coach round the nurburgring. How mad would you have to be to try that?

Ipsoregulated

This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's Editors' Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then please contact the editor here. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can contact IPSO here